asked the Minister for Lands and Agriculture if he will state when it will be possible to refund to the members of the Ferbane Co-operative Farming Society, Offaly, the deposits lodged by them with the National Land Bank as security for lands purchased; if he is aware that the lands in question have now been vested and the Land Bank mortgage paid off, and if, in view of this, he will state whether there is any further reason for retaining these deposits, which are badly required as working capital by the applicants.
CEISTEANNA.—QUESTIONS. (ORAL ANSWERS.) - RETURN OF BANK DEPOSITS.
Mr. HOGAN
The lands purchased by the Ferbane Co-operative Farming Society have been vested in the Land Commission, the price having been fixed in accordance with the provisions of Section 52 of the Land Act, 1923, and the deposit has been lodged with the Land Commission.
Having regard to the provisions of Section 53 of the Act as to the methods in which the deposit is to be utilised, the Land Commission is not in a position to repay it to the society at present.